The taxonomic status of the poorly known Patagonian Lizard Liolaemus ruizleali has been revised according to its only extant holotype and paratypes. It is a composite species: the holotype and two paratypes belong to Liolaemus rothi Koslowsky, 1898, the other four paratypes to Liolaemus kingi somuncurae Cei and Scolaro, 1981. The synonymic list of these latter species is readjusted.Material digitalizado en SEDICI gracias a la colaboración del Dr. Jorge Williams (FCNM-UNLP).Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Muse

Cei, José Miguel Alfredo María

Scolaro, José A.

English

El Servicio de Difusión de la Creación Intelectual

MUSEO REGIONALE DI SCIENZE NATURALI
The true systematic status of Liolaemus ruisleali
Donoso Barros and Cei, 1971, from Northern 
Patagonia, Argentina (Reptilia, Iguanidae)
J. M. Cei - J. A. Scolaro
ESTRATTO
dal Bollettino del Museo Regionale di Scienze Naturali - Torino 
Volume 5 - N. 1 - 1987
Boll. Mus. reg. Sci. nat. Torino Vol. 5 - N. 1 pp. 179 - 187 25-6-1987
José M. Cei* José A. Scolaro**
* Departamento Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Rio Cuarto, Córdo­
ba, Argentina.
** Centro Nacional Patagónico, Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina.
The true systematic status of Liolaemus misleali 
Donoso Barros and Cei, 1971, from Northern 
Patagonia, Argentina (Reptilia, Iguanidae)
ABSTRACT
The taxonomic status of the poorly known Patagonian Lizard Liolaemus ruizleali has 
been revised according to its only extant holotype and paratypes. It is a composite 
species: the holotype and two paratypes belong to Liolaemus rothi Koslowsky, 1898, the 
other four paratypes to Liolaemus kingi somuncurae Cei and Scolaro, 1981. The synony­
mic list of these latter species is readjusted.
INTRODUCTION
Several reptiles were collected in the distant and poorly known locali­
ties of meseta Somuncurá, Rio Negro, and other Patagonian volcanic table­
lands, by the senior author during field work devoted primarily to the 
taxonomic and ecological research on the recently discovered leptodactylid 
frogs of the genus Atelognathus (Cei, 1969). The late Prof. R.Donoso 
Barros (University of Concepción, Chile), expert of South American li­
zards, agreed to collaborate in a study of this herpetological material. Prof. 
Donoso Barros tentatively identified some new taxa and submitted as 
senior author a systematic paper to the J. of Herpetology (1971), where 
the following new species were described: Vilcunia silvanae, Liolaemus 
ruisleali, Liolaemus archeforus, and Liolaemus elongatus petrophilus. Un­
fortunately, neither the manuscript nor the galley proofs of this paper 
were seen or revised by the co-author, J.M.Cei, occasionally far away from 
the South American continent. While no questions have arisen so far on 
the taxonomic status and validity of Vilcunia silvanae, Liolaemus archefo­
rus and Liolaemus elongatus petrophilus, in the last decade several doubts 
have been expressed about the specific identity of Liolaemus ruizleali from 
180
the meseta de Somuncurá (Cerro Corona, 1600 m a.s.l.). This lizard was 
described from 7 specimens, originally deposited in the herpetological 
collections of the Instituto Biología Animal-Universidad Nacional de 
Cuyo, Mendoza (IBA-UNC), as well as in the Donoso Barros’s personal 
collection (RODOBA), now Collection of the Museo Zoología, Universi­
dad de Concepción, Chile (MZUC). In fact, further research in the terra 
typica of Liolaemus ruizleali (Cerro Corona and its neighbors) has always 
failed to provide additional specimens able to fit the original description, 
which is poorly illustrated in two dark, insignificant photographs in Dono­
so Barros and Cei’s paper (1971). Moreover, in Laurent’s recent phylogene­
tic discussion of the genus Liolaemus, the ambiguity of Liolaemus ruizleali 
is repeatedly emphasized (Laurent: pers.comm.). Its “morphometric rela­
tionships” with Liolaemus species of the kingi, archeforus and rothi groups 
are also pointed out (Laurent, 1984, 1985). The precarious status of this 
form required a critical revision of the Liolaemus ruizleali holotype and 
paratypes, most likely described too hastily in the past on a small number 
of specimens, and then only vaguely referred to some “morph” of the 
widespread northern Patagonian lizard Liolaemus rothi Koslowsky (Cei, 
1986).
MATERIAL AND METHODS
All the original types, from both the IBA-UNC and MZUC collections, 
were carefully examined, measured with precision calipers and compared 
with sympatric species of the genus. Luckily, color slides of five of the 
seven types of Liolaemus ruizleali taken of the live specimens at the 
moment of the capture (February, 16, 1968), have been made available. 
They correspond to the original numbers of the description: IBA-UNC 483 
(male, holotype), 484-3 (female, “allotype”), 482-1, 484-2 (females, paraty­
pes) and RODOBA 001327 (male, paratype). The metric measurements of 
the seven types are reported in table I. Further discriminant analysis to 
assess the reciprocal position of the above mentioned “types” was also 
carried out, using Foucart’s method (1982). Ten continuous variables were 
used, all corresponding to the whole metric characters reported in Table I. 
In order to associate the variables to two main discriminant canonic axes, 
population samples of three other sympatric taxa from the Somuncurá 
plateau (Rio Negro) were also analysed and compared. These were Liolae­
mus rothi (n = 20), Liolaemus kingi somuncurae (n = 14) and Liolaemus 
boulengeri (n = 14), all obtained in the terra typica of L.ruizleali and its 
environs. Their comparative mensurable characters (mean and Standard 
Deviation, or SD) are reported in table II. All morphometric measure­
ments were taken on adult specimens whose maturity was macroscopically 
controlled. When the groups were tested, the means of each variable were 
tested in accordance with their type distribution (F Snedecor test). In the 
case of normal, Gaussian distribution, the t Student test was used; in the 
case of no Gaussian distribution the U Mann-Whitney test was applied.
181
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182
TABLE II - Comparative mensurable characters in sympatric Liolaemus species from 
Somuncura plateau. Values represent mean and Standard deviation (SD).
Variables Liolaemus 
rothi 
(N = 20)
Liolaemus kingi 
somuncurae 
(N = 14)
Liolaemus 
boulengeri 
(N = 14)
Body length (mm) 86.97 (7.24) 76.31 (5.67) 63.42 (4.28)
Head length (mm) 17.05 (1.78) 14.98 (1.04) 11.75 (1.04)
Head width (mm) 15.76 (1.50) 13.21 (1.09) 10.77 (0.65)
Hind limb length (mm) 49.22 (4.00) 39.06 (2.56) 35.16 (2.70)
Fore limb length (mm) 28.53 (2.01) 24.38 (2.02) 21.28 (1.50)
Axilla-groin length (mm) 39.37 (2.94) 38.01 (4.52) 29.82 (2.86)
Fourth finger lamellae number 18.55 (1.36) 19.78 (1.42) 18.42 (1.27)
Scale number around midbody 73.60 (4.61) 79.14 (3.02) 77.78 (4.12)
Supralabial scale number 8.45 (0.86) 8.50 (0.50) 7.86 (0.74)
Infralabial scale number 6.10 (0.62) 5.78 (0.41) 5.50 (0.50)
RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS
General Morphological Remarks
It is evident from our careful screening that Liolaemus ruizleali Dono- 
so Barros and Cei, 1971 is a composite species, lacking a real taxonomic 
identity. The holotype is a synonym of Liolaemus rothi Koslowsky, 1898 
(cf.color plate 1, 1-2), while the paratypes IBA-UNC 482-2 (male), 482-1 
(female) also belong to this taxon (cf. color plate 1, 5). These specimens 
present the femoral “patches” shown by Liolaemus rothi, together with the 
black pigmentary mass on the mandible muscles observed only in L.rothi 
by Etheridge (pers.comm.). Instead, the paratypes IBA-UNC 484-3 (fema­
le, “allotype”) and 484-2 (female), RODOBA 001327 (male, MZUC 8793) 
and RODOBA 001328 (female, MZUC 12060) belong to Liolaemus kingi 
somuncurae Cei and Scolaro, 1981 (cf. color plate 1,4, 5, 6), an unknown 
and undescribed species at the time of the Donoso Barros and Cei’s paper 
(1971). No femoral patches are recognizable in these paratypes, as well as
2 b
3 b 4 b
5 b 6 b
Slides taken of the live holotype and paratypes of Liolaemus ruizleali (phot. 1, 3, 4, 5). Their true identity can be 
pointed out when compared to characteristic specimens of Liolaemus rothi (phot. 2) and Liolaemus kingi somuncu- 
rae (phot. 6) from their terra typica.
1- Holotype IBA-UNC 483: its typical characters are referable to
2- {Liolaemus rothi from Cerro Corona, Somuncura plateau, March 2,1980);
3- Paratype IBA-UNC 482-1, also referable to Liolaemus rothi;
4- Paratype IBA-UNC 484-3, and 5- Paratype. IBA-UNC 484-2: both unquestionably referable to 6- {Liolaemus 
kingi somuncurae, from Cerro Corona, Somuncura plateau, March 1986).
184
in L.kingi somuncurae and any other taxon of the kingi group. Also their 
ventral pigmentation is unquestionably referable to the ventral pigmentary 
pattern of L.kingi somuncurae from the same locality.
Results of the discriminant analysis
The correct classification of the seven specimens belonging to the 
so-called “types” of Liolaemus ruizleali, and their individual relationship 
with other Liolaemus population from the Somuncura plateau, were the 
purpose of the present numerical research. The discriminant analysis provi­
ded two significant canonic axes for the three groups considered. Canonic 
axis I absorbs 55% of the total variance, and canonic axis II the remai­
ning 45%. Canonic axis I allows the separation of L. rothi from the 
remaining groups, associating in its positive sector most of the variables 
having a major expression in L.rothi in comparison to the remaining taxa, 
such as body length (p < 0.001, U Mann-Whitney test), head length (p < 
0.001, t Student test), head width (p < 0.001, U Mann-Whitney test), 
hind limb length (p < 0.001, t Student test) and fore limb length (p < 
0.001, U Mann-Whitney test). Comparing the major body length of L. 
rothi and the body length of L.boulengeri, the axilla-groin distance shows 
a significant value (p < 0.001, t Student test). In its negative sector, the 
variable number of scales around the body is associated: this variable 
exhibits its major values in L. kingi somuncurae (p < 0.001, t Student 
test).
Canonic axis II associates in the positive sector the variable fourth 
finger lamellae. This variable exhibits major values in L.kingi somuncurae 
(p< 0.05, t Student test), which allow its separation from L. boulengeri. 
Moreover, the minor body length of this latter, when compared with the 
other taxa, points out its minor values for the variables lying in the qua­
drant defined by the positive sectors of both the canonic axes. Consequen­
tly, the centroid referred to the taxon L. boulengeri lies in the quadrant 
delimited by both the negative sectors of the canonic axes, opposite to the 
anterior (Fig 1).
The distance between the centroids of each taxon is relatively equal in 
the three species. These centroids are nearner in L. rothi and L. kingi 
somuncurae, according to the selected variables. Ellipses of equiprobabili­
ty (p< 0.01 : Sokal and Rohlf, 1979) for all specimens revealed no 
overlap between the groups (Fig 1).
Discriminant analysis of individual specimens resulted in a very high 
percentage of correct classification (100%). Using the same classification 
equations, the identification of each of the seven specimens still recogni­
zed as L. ruizleali was made. The result was that the following “types” 
belong to L. rothi-. IBA-UNC 483 (holotype), IBA-UNC 482-1 and IBA- 
185
UNC 482-2: while the following “types” belong to L. kingi somuncurae: 
IBA-UNC 484-2, IBA.UNC 484-3 and MZUC 12060 and 8793. Autova­
lues and space distribution for all these cases support the bidimensional 
representation shown in the Fig. 1, joined to the ellipses of equiprobability 
for the three groups analysed.
The specimen IBA-UNC 483 (holotype of L.ruizleali) is evidently a L. 
rothi specimen which does not reach the normal species mean in some of 
its morphometric parameters (Fig. 1). It could be a somewhat atypical 
individual, lying outside the equiprobability ellipse at a rather doubtless 
level (p< 0.01); thus, its classification could fall with in an error range of 
1%. Similar remarks, although to a lesser extent, could be made for the 
specimen MZUC 12060, identified as a Liolaemus kingi somuncurae 
female.
Fig. 1 — Ellipses of equiprobability for all the cases (p<0.01). Black dots indicate 
all individual records of Liolaemus ruizleali up to date. (Type specimens: 
MZUC-Museo Zoología Universidad Concepción; IBA - Instituto Biología Ani­
mal-Universidad Nacional Cuyo, o IBA-UNC).
186
CONCLUSION
In appendix to the generic and species revision of the revision of the 
reptilian fauna from Central and Southern Argentina (Cei, 1986), the 
following modification should be noted.
Synonyms of Liolaemus rothi Koslowsky, 1898:
1898 Liolaemus rothi Koslowsky. Revta Mus. La Plata 8:177, lam.4. Terra typica: “Terri­
torio del Neuquén”.
1970 Liolaemus rothi Peters and Donoso Barros. U S natn Mus. Bull. 297,2: 193.
1971 Liolaemus ruizleali Donoso Barros and Cei (partim: IBA-UNC 483, holotype; 
482-1, 482-2). J. of Herpetol. 5 (3-4): 93.
1986 Liolaemus rothi Cei. Reptiles del Centro, Centro-Oeste y Sur de Argentina, Mo- 
nogr. 7, Mus.reg.Sc.nat. Torino: 214.
Synonyms of Liolaemus kingi somuncurae Cei and Scolaro, 1981:
1971 Liolaemus ruizleali Donoso Barros and Cei (partim: IBA-UNC 484-3,484-2; MZUC 
8793, 12060) J.of Herpetol.5 (3-4):93.
1981 Liolaemus kingi somuncurae Cei and Scolaro. J.of Herpetol. 15 (2):207. Terra 
typica: Meseta Somuncura, near Laguna Raimundo, 1400 m s.l.m., Rio Negro, Argentina. 
1986 Liolaemus kingi somuncurae Cei, Reptiles del Centro, Centro-Oeste y Sur de Argen­
tina, Monogr. 7, Mus. reg.Sc.nat.Torino: 234.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
We wish acknowledge with thanks Prof. B.Lanza, Zoological Museum, University of 
Florence, Italy, for his useful criticism of our paper, and Mrs Sarah Mascherini, from the 
same Museum, for her wide revision of the English manuscript. We acknowledge Dr 
J.C.Ortiz, Zoological Museum, University of Concepción, Chile, and F.Videla, Instituto 
Argentino Zonas Aridas, Mendoza, for their friendly collaboration to assemble documen­
tation and measurements on the type specimens. We like to thank, at last, Dr O.Bortesi, 
Director of the Regional Museum of Natural History, Torino, Italy, for his prompt 
acceptance of the manuscript for the Bulletin of the above mentioned Museum.
José M. Cei 
Rancho Somuncura 
Rua Fausto de Figueiredo 
Birre - 2750 Cascais (Portugal)
José A. Scolaro 
Casilla Correo 69 
9120 Puerto Madryn - Chubut (Argentina)
187
LITERATURE CITED
Cei, J.M. 1969 - The Patagonian Telmatobiid fauna of the volcanic Somuncurá plateau 
(Rio Negro, Argentina). J. of Herpetol. 3 (1-2): 1-18.
Cei, J.M. 1986 - Reptiles del centro, centro-oeste y sur de Argentina. Monogr.7, Mus.reg. 
Sci.nat.Torino: 528 pp, 146 col.pl.
Donoso, Barros, R. and j.m.cei.1971 - New lizards from the volcanic Patagonian plateau 
of Argentina. J. of Herpetol.5 (3-4): 89-95.
Foucart, T. 1982 - Analyse factorielle. Programmation sur micro-ordinateurs, Masson 
Ed. Paris: 245 pp.
Koslowsky, J. 1898 - Enumeración sistemática y distribución geográfica de los reptiles 
argentinos. Revta Mus. La Plata 8: 161-200.
Laurent, R.F. 1984 - Segunda contribución al conocimiento de la estructura taxonómica 
del género Liolaemus Wiegmann (Iguanidae). Común. VIII Jorn.argent.Zool., Mar 
del Plata, Oct. 1984: 83.
Laurent, R.F. 1985 - Segunda contribución al conocimiento de la estructura taxonómica 
del género Liolaemus Wiegmann (Iguanidae). Cuad.Herp. A.H.A. B.Aires 1 (6): 1-37.


The true systematic status of Liolaemus misleali Donoso Barros and Cei, 1971, from Northern Patagonia, Argentina (Reptilia, Iguanidae)

LAReferencia - Red Federada de Repositorios Institucionales de Publicaciones Científicas Latinoamericanas

MUSEO REGIONALE DI SCIENZE NATURALIThe true systematic status of Liolaemus ruislealiDonoso Barros and Cei, 1971, from Northern Patagonia, Argentina (Reptilia, Iguanidae)J. M. Cei - J. A. ScolaroESTRATTOdal Bollettino del Museo Regionale di Scienze Naturali - Torino Volume 5 - N. 1 - 1987Boll. Mus. reg. Sci. nat. Torino Vol. 5 - N. 1 pp. 179 - 187 25-6-1987José M. Cei* José A. Scolaro*** Departamento Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Rio Cuarto, Córdo­ba, Argentina.** Centro Nacional Patagónico, Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina.The true systematic status of Liolaemus misleali Donoso Barros and Cei, 1971, from Northern Patagonia, Argentina (Reptilia, Iguanidae)ABSTRACTThe taxonomic status of the poorly known Patagonian Lizard Liolaemus ruizleali has been revised according to its only extant holotype and paratypes. It is a composite species: the holotype and two paratypes belong to Liolaemus rothi Koslowsky, 1898, the other four paratypes to Liolaemus kingi somuncurae Cei and Scolaro, 1981. The synony­mic list of these latter species is readjusted.INTRODUCTIONSeveral reptiles were collected in the distant and poorly known locali­ties of meseta Somuncurá, Rio Negro, and other Patagonian volcanic table­lands, by the senior author during field work devoted primarily to the taxonomic and ecological research on the recently discovered leptodactylid frogs of the genus Atelognathus (Cei, 1969). The late Prof. R.Donoso Barros (University of Concepción, Chile), expert of South American li­zards, agreed to collaborate in a study of this herpetological material. Prof. Donoso Barros tentatively identified some new taxa and submitted as senior author a systematic paper to the J. of Herpetology (1971), where the following new species were described: Vilcunia silvanae, Liolaemus ruisleali, Liolaemus archeforus, and Liolaemus elongatus petrophilus. Un­fortunately, neither the manuscript nor the galley proofs of this paper were seen or revised by the co-author, J.M.Cei, occasionally far away from the South American continent. While no questions have arisen so far on the taxonomic status and validity of Vilcunia silvanae, Liolaemus archefo­rus and Liolaemus elongatus petrophilus, in the last decade several doubts have been expressed about the specific identity of Liolaemus ruizleali from 180the meseta de Somuncurá (Cerro Corona, 1600 m a.s.l.). This lizard was described from 7 specimens, originally deposited in the herpetological collections of the Instituto Biología Animal-Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, Mendoza (IBA-UNC), as well as in the Donoso Barros’s personal collection (RODOBA), now Collection of the Museo Zoología, Universi­dad de Concepción, Chile (MZUC). In fact, further research in the terra typica of Liolaemus ruizleali (Cerro Corona and its neighbors) has always failed to provide additional specimens able to fit the original description, which is poorly illustrated in two dark, insignificant photographs in Dono­so Barros and Cei’s paper (1971). Moreover, in Laurent’s recent phylogene­tic discussion of the genus Liolaemus, the ambiguity of Liolaemus ruizleali is repeatedly emphasized (Laurent: pers.comm.). Its “morphometric rela­tionships” with Liolaemus species of the kingi, archeforus and rothi groups are also pointed out (Laurent, 1984, 1985). The precarious status of this form required a critical revision of the Liolaemus ruizleali holotype and paratypes, most likely described too hastily in the past on a small number of specimens, and then only vaguely referred to some “morph” of the widespread northern Patagonian lizard Liolaemus rothi Koslowsky (Cei, 1986).MATERIAL AND METHODSAll the original types, from both the IBA-UNC and MZUC collections, were carefully examined, measured with precision calipers and compared with sympatric species of the genus. Luckily, color slides of five of the seven types of Liolaemus ruizleali taken of the live specimens at the moment of the capture (February, 16, 1968), have been made available. They correspond to the original numbers of the description: IBA-UNC 483 (male, holotype), 484-3 (female, “allotype”), 482-1, 484-2 (females, paraty­pes) and RODOBA 001327 (male, paratype). The metric measurements of the seven types are reported in table I. Further discriminant analysis to assess the reciprocal position of the above mentioned “types” was also carried out, using Foucart’s method (1982). Ten continuous variables were used, all corresponding to the whole metric characters reported in Table I. In order to associate the variables to two main discriminant canonic axes, population samples of three other sympatric taxa from the Somuncurá plateau (Rio Negro) were also analysed and compared. These were Liolae­mus rothi (n = 20), Liolaemus kingi somuncurae (n = 14) and Liolaemus boulengeri (n = 14), all obtained in the terra typica of L.ruizleali and its environs. Their comparative mensurable characters (mean and Standard Deviation, or SD) are reported in table II. All morphometric measure­ments were taken on adult specimens whose maturity was macroscopically controlled. When the groups were tested, the means of each variable were tested in accordance with their type distribution (F Snedecor test). In the case of normal, Gaussian distribution, the t Student test was used; in the case of no Gaussian distribution the U Mann-Whitney test was applied.181MZUC.132872.4014.9012.0429.4020.5032.7016 85 5 6 presentMZUC.132773.9415.8812.8629.9224.3827.0017 84 6 7 presentIBA.UNC484.274.0015.1012.0033.6025.0035.4020 78 7 6 presentIBA.UNC484.381.8016.5012.6036.3024.0037.0019 78 9 6 presentIBA.UNC482.284.1016.4015.5048.8028.8034.2020 82 8 7 presentIBA.UNC482.193.4019.2016.1051.1031.0041.0020 78 9 6 presentIBA.UNC 483Holotype95.5021.0018.40»54.4029.8042.5020 77 8 6 presentBody lengthHead lenghtHead width Hind limb lenght Fore limb lenght Axilla-groin distance Fourth finger lamellae Scale number around body Supralabial scale number Infralabial scale number Femoral patches Marbled ventral patternTABLE I — Metric measurements (mm) and other morphological characters in the “types” of Liolaemus ruizleali (used as variables in the discriminant analysis).182TABLE II - Comparative mensurable characters in sympatric Liolaemus species from Somuncura plateau. Values represent mean and Standard deviation (SD).Variables Liolaemus rothi (N = 20)Liolaemus kingi somuncurae (N = 14)Liolaemus boulengeri (N = 14)Body length (mm) 86.97 (7.24) 76.31 (5.67) 63.42 (4.28)Head length (mm) 17.05 (1.78) 14.98 (1.04) 11.75 (1.04)Head width (mm) 15.76 (1.50) 13.21 (1.09) 10.77 (0.65)Hind limb length (mm) 49.22 (4.00) 39.06 (2.56) 35.16 (2.70)Fore limb length (mm) 28.53 (2.01) 24.38 (2.02) 21.28 (1.50)Axilla-groin length (mm) 39.37 (2.94) 38.01 (4.52) 29.82 (2.86)Fourth finger lamellae number 18.55 (1.36) 19.78 (1.42) 18.42 (1.27)Scale number around midbody 73.60 (4.61) 79.14 (3.02) 77.78 (4.12)Supralabial scale number 8.45 (0.86) 8.50 (0.50) 7.86 (0.74)Infralabial scale number 6.10 (0.62) 5.78 (0.41) 5.50 (0.50)RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONSGeneral Morphological RemarksIt is evident from our careful screening that Liolaemus ruizleali Dono- so Barros and Cei, 1971 is a composite species, lacking a real taxonomic identity. The holotype is a synonym of Liolaemus rothi Koslowsky, 1898 (cf.color plate 1, 1-2), while the paratypes IBA-UNC 482-2 (male), 482-1 (female) also belong to this taxon (cf. color plate 1, 5). These specimens present the femoral “patches” shown by Liolaemus rothi, together with the black pigmentary mass on the mandible muscles observed only in L.rothi by Etheridge (pers.comm.). Instead, the paratypes IBA-UNC 484-3 (fema­le, “allotype”) and 484-2 (female), RODOBA 001327 (male, MZUC 8793) and RODOBA 001328 (female, MZUC 12060) belong to Liolaemus kingi somuncurae Cei and Scolaro, 1981 (cf. color plate 1,4, 5, 6), an unknown and undescribed species at the time of the Donoso Barros and Cei’s paper (1971). No femoral patches are recognizable in these paratypes, as well as2 b3 b 4 b5 b 6 bSlides taken of the live holotype and paratypes of Liolaemus ruizleali (phot. 1, 3, 4, 5). Their true identity can be pointed out when compared to characteristic specimens of Liolaemus rothi (phot. 2) and Liolaemus kingi somuncu- rae (phot. 6) from their terra typica.1- Holotype IBA-UNC 483: its typical characters are referable to2- {Liolaemus rothi from Cerro Corona, Somuncura plateau, March 2,1980);3- Paratype IBA-UNC 482-1, also referable to Liolaemus rothi;4- Paratype IBA-UNC 484-3, and 5- Paratype. IBA-UNC 484-2: both unquestionably referable to 6- {Liolaemus kingi somuncurae, from Cerro Corona, Somuncura plateau, March 1986).184in L.kingi somuncurae and any other taxon of the kingi group. Also their ventral pigmentation is unquestionably referable to the ventral pigmentary pattern of L.kingi somuncurae from the same locality.Results of the discriminant analysisThe correct classification of the seven specimens belonging to the so-called “types” of Liolaemus ruizleali, and their individual relationship with other Liolaemus population from the Somuncura plateau, were the purpose of the present numerical research. The discriminant analysis provi­ded two significant canonic axes for the three groups considered. Canonic axis I absorbs 55% of the total variance, and canonic axis II the remai­ning 45%. Canonic axis I allows the separation of L. rothi from the remaining groups, associating in its positive sector most of the variables having a major expression in L.rothi in comparison to the remaining taxa, such as body length (p < 0.001, U Mann-Whitney test), head length (p < 0.001, t Student test), head width (p < 0.001, U Mann-Whitney test), hind limb length (p < 0.001, t Student test) and fore limb length (p < 0.001, U Mann-Whitney test). Comparing the major body length of L. rothi and the body length of L.boulengeri, the axilla-groin distance shows a significant value (p < 0.001, t Student test). In its negative sector, the variable number of scales around the body is associated: this variable exhibits its major values in L. kingi somuncurae (p < 0.001, t Student test).Canonic axis II associates in the positive sector the variable fourth finger lamellae. This variable exhibits major values in L.kingi somuncurae (p< 0.05, t Student test), which allow its separation from L. boulengeri. Moreover, the minor body length of this latter, when compared with the other taxa, points out its minor values for the variables lying in the qua­drant defined by the positive sectors of both the canonic axes. Consequen­tly, the centroid referred to the taxon L. boulengeri lies in the quadrant delimited by both the negative sectors of the canonic axes, opposite to the anterior (Fig 1).The distance between the centroids of each taxon is relatively equal in the three species. These centroids are nearner in L. rothi and L. kingi somuncurae, according to the selected variables. Ellipses of equiprobabili­ty (p< 0.01 : Sokal and Rohlf, 1979) for all specimens revealed no overlap between the groups (Fig 1).Discriminant analysis of individual specimens resulted in a very high percentage of correct classification (100%). Using the same classification equations, the identification of each of the seven specimens still recogni­zed as L. ruizleali was made. The result was that the following “types” belong to L. rothi-. IBA-UNC 483 (holotype), IBA-UNC 482-1 and IBA- 185UNC 482-2: while the following “types” belong to L. kingi somuncurae: IBA-UNC 484-2, IBA.UNC 484-3 and MZUC 12060 and 8793. Autova­lues and space distribution for all these cases support the bidimensional representation shown in the Fig. 1, joined to the ellipses of equiprobability for the three groups analysed.The specimen IBA-UNC 483 (holotype of L.ruizleali) is evidently a L. rothi specimen which does not reach the normal species mean in some of its morphometric parameters (Fig. 1). It could be a somewhat atypical individual, lying outside the equiprobability ellipse at a rather doubtless level (p< 0.01); thus, its classification could fall with in an error range of 1%. Similar remarks, although to a lesser extent, could be made for the specimen MZUC 12060, identified as a Liolaemus kingi somuncurae female.Fig. 1 — Ellipses of equiprobability for all the cases (p<0.01). Black dots indicate all individual records of Liolaemus ruizleali up to date. (Type specimens: MZUC-Museo Zoología Universidad Concepción; IBA - Instituto Biología Ani­mal-Universidad Nacional Cuyo, o IBA-UNC).186CONCLUSIONIn appendix to the generic and species revision of the revision of the reptilian fauna from Central and Southern Argentina (Cei, 1986), the following modification should be noted.Synonyms of Liolaemus rothi Koslowsky, 1898:1898 Liolaemus rothi Koslowsky. Revta Mus. La Plata 8:177, lam.4. Terra typica: “Terri­torio del Neuquén”.1970 Liolaemus rothi Peters and Donoso Barros. U S natn Mus. Bull. 297,2: 193.1971 Liolaemus ruizleali Donoso Barros and Cei (partim: IBA-UNC 483, holotype; 482-1, 482-2). J. of Herpetol. 5 (3-4): 93.1986 Liolaemus rothi Cei. Reptiles del Centro, Centro-Oeste y Sur de Argentina, Mo- nogr. 7, Mus.reg.Sc.nat. Torino: 214.Synonyms of Liolaemus kingi somuncurae Cei and Scolaro, 1981:1971 Liolaemus ruizleali Donoso Barros and Cei (partim: IBA-UNC 484-3,484-2; MZUC 8793, 12060) J.of Herpetol.5 (3-4):93.1981 Liolaemus kingi somuncurae Cei and Scolaro. J.of Herpetol. 15 (2):207. Terra typica: Meseta Somuncura, near Laguna Raimundo, 1400 m s.l.m., Rio Negro, Argentina. 1986 Liolaemus kingi somuncurae Cei, Reptiles del Centro, Centro-Oeste y Sur de Argen­tina, Monogr. 7, Mus. reg.Sc.nat.Torino: 234.ACKNOWLEDGMENTSWe wish acknowledge with thanks Prof. B.Lanza, Zoological Museum, University of Florence, Italy, for his useful criticism of our paper, and Mrs Sarah Mascherini, from the same Museum, for her wide revision of the English manuscript. We acknowledge Dr J.C.Ortiz, Zoological Museum, University of Concepción, Chile, and F.Videla, Instituto Argentino Zonas Aridas, Mendoza, for their friendly collaboration to assemble documen­tation and measurements on the type specimens. We like to thank, at last, Dr O.Bortesi, Director of the Regional Museum of Natural History, Torino, Italy, for his prompt acceptance of the manuscript for the Bulletin of the above mentioned Museum.José M. Cei Rancho Somuncura Rua Fausto de Figueiredo Birre - 2750 Cascais (Portugal)José A. Scolaro Casilla Correo 69 9120 Puerto Madryn - Chubut (Argentina)187LITERATURE CITEDCei, J.M. 1969 - The Patagonian Telmatobiid fauna of the volcanic Somuncurá plateau (Rio Negro, Argentina). J. of Herpetol. 3 (1-2): 1-18.Cei, J.M. 1986 - Reptiles del centro, centro-oeste y sur de Argentina. Monogr.7, Mus.reg. Sci.nat.Torino: 528 pp, 146 col.pl.Donoso, Barros, R. and j.m.cei.1971 - New lizards from the volcanic Patagonian plateau of Argentina. J. of Herpetol.5 (3-4): 89-95.Foucart, T. 1982 - Analyse factorielle. Programmation sur micro-ordinateurs, Masson Ed. Paris: 245 pp.Koslowsky, J. 1898 - Enumeración sistemática y distribución geográfica de los reptiles argentinos. Revta Mus. La Plata 8: 161-200.Laurent, R.F. 1984 - Segunda contribución al conocimiento de la estructura taxonómica del género Liolaemus Wiegmann (Iguanidae). Común. VIII Jorn.argent.Zool., Mar del Plata, Oct. 1984: 83.Laurent, R.F. 1985 - Segunda contribución al conocimiento de la estructura taxonómica del género Liolaemus Wiegmann (Iguanidae). Cuad.Herp. A.H.A. B.Aires 1 (6): 1-37.

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The true systematic status of Liolaemus misleali Donoso Barros and Cei, 1971, from Northern Patagonia, Argentina (Reptilia, Iguanidae)

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